Students collect items for meth home victims

Kids rescued in raids receive necessities and comfort

Published: Monday, December 26, 2005 -- The Truth,

A3Last updated: 12/25/2005 11:11:41 PMBy DL Perrin
Truth Correspondent


Bradley’s helping other kids Bradley Kulhman, a first-grade student at Eastside Elementary School in Constantine, lends a hand packing suitcases for children taken to safe shelters after drug raids. Eastside students collected backpacks and small suitcases to fill with pajamas, clothes, toiletries and a few comfort items.

CONSTANTINE -- Students at Eastside and Riverside elementary schools are softening the blow to kids removed from homes in drug raids by packing suitcases and backpacks for them with necessity and comfort items.
When Kristin Flynn, Eastside Elementary principal, read about ordeals experienced by children in meth homes, she had to act. "I love children," Flynn said, hauling box after box of donated items to the curb for loading into the cars going to child protection offices.
"I work with children all day. I could not just sit by and do nothing when I discovered how this terrible drug was affecting so many children here in our area."
Flynn talked with teachers at Eastside, then contacted Linda Pettit and Donna Mahoney of Riverside Elementary and asked for their help collecting suitcases and backpacks filled with clothes, comfort items and toiletries for children.
Results were incredible, Flynn said, noting students and parents were generous.
"I had been discussing with my kids the impact on families when there is drug abuse like meth," Pettit said. "So when Kristin approached us, my kids were more than willing to collect things to donate. It is a great project and hopefully we will continue with it because the need is there."
Norm Taylor, Constantine Pubic Schools superintendent, praised students' and teachers' efforts. Taylor said projects like these raise awareness -- even to those innocent of drug use, possession or distribution. "I applaud Principal Kristin Flynn, staff and students who contributed to this project, especially on top of our usual holiday generosity to others."
Flynn said, "We must have 30 backpacks and suitcases here, plus boxes and bags of stuffed animals, clothes, pajamas, combs, toothbrushes and blankets." As she spoke, Sandi Chappel of Scholastic Book Fair came in with a donation of four cases of children's books. Flynn was ecstatic.
A couple of first-grade students were on hand to help with the loading. Bradley Kulhman, 7, said, "I like the blanket we packed because it is comfy and if I lost my house, like these kids do, then I'd like it to keep me warm." Next to Bradley was his classmate, 7-year-old Jack Keifer.
"It's very nice to bring clothes to them when they don't have their own clothes because it might have some of that bad stuff stuck on their clothes," Jack said, and with a sigh of empathy, he hugged a teddy bear tightly.
Glad to accept the donated items was Jean Skalski of the Department of Human Services and Suzanne Lind of the Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Council.
Skalski said as many as 10 children a month are rescued from meth homes in the St. Joseph County. "Regrettably, the need for these items will not diminish."
Flynn and other teachers vowed to keep collecting as long as it is needed.


How to help
Necessity items (toothbrush, toothpaste, combs, tissues) and comfort items (blankets and stuffed animals) can be donated to be placed in suitcases and backpacks and given to kids taken to safe shelters after drug raids at their homes. To make donations in St. Joseph County, Mich., call: • Suzanne Lind, St. Joseph County Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention Council, (269) 435-7817; • Jean Skalski, St. Joseph County Department of Human Services, (269) 467-1200

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I think this is a good idea... It may be something that you may wish to start in your own community. I am sure this give some comfort to the children that are affected. I just witnessed something along the same lines yesterday when there was a very tragic accident in an intersection near our home... I witnessed a fireman giving a little girl a small bear and she smiled. It know this is by no means the cureall endall.... but... every little bit helps, if we would all chip in and try and help the victims and addicts in some way. Kim